Funding

Bobolinks

118 Projects Approved 2018-2019

33 Coastal Region Projects 2018-2019

55 Columbia Region Projects 2018-2019

30 Peace Region Projects 2018-2019

New Projects Announced

Our three regional boards – Coastal, Columbia, and Peace – approved funding for 118 fish and wildlife projects, valued at approximately $10 million, for 2018-2019. Each project went through a three-stage review and evaluation process prior to a final decision by our local Boards. Each project addresses one or more conservation priorities in our Action Plans. See our project map. Visit our inter-active project maps for our Coastal, Columbia and Peace regions.

Learn more about why we’re funded by BC Hydro, the projects we fund and how you can apply for a grant. Read our FAQ below. Subscribe and we will keep you posted on project updates, results, grant deadlines and FWCP events. Final reports and results for all FWCP projects are posted online.

Manage Your Grant

FAQ

What is the FWCP?

The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of British Columbia, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations, and Public Stakeholders. Our mission is to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams.

Why does the FWCP fund fish and wildlife projects?

In our Columbia and Peace regions, BC Hydro’s water licences require BC Hydro to compensate for the impacts of its dams and generating stations. In our Coastal Region, compensating for the impacts of BC Hydro dams and generating stations is a voluntary initiative by BC Hydro in recognition of the impacts.

Who decides what projects get FWCP funding?

We fund projects that align with our Action Plans, which reflect regional conservation priorities and priority actions. An independent Board in each region reviews all grant applications and approves all project and funding decisions. Our Boards include representatives from BC Hydro, the Province of BC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and Public Stakeholders.

How is the FWCP funded?

The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) conserves and enhances fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams. The FWCP is funded annually by BC Hydro. The FWCP directs those funds towards priority actions across its three regions to fulfill its mission and work towards its vision of thriving fish and wildlife populations in watersheds that are functioning and sustainable.

By funding projects to support fish and wildlife populations in our Coastal, Columbia and Peace Regions, the FWCP is fulfilling BC Hydro’s applicable water licence obligations and voluntary commitments to compensate for fish and wildlife impacts.

What does the FWCP fund?

We fund and support the following types of actions, which are consistent with our mandate:

Actions to create, restore, or otherwise improve the function of ecosystems that have been impacted by BC Hydro activities;

Actions to create, restore, or otherwise improve the function of alternate ecosystems that provide a better opportunity for investment;

Specific management actions for species of interest, as identified by recovery teams and action/implementation groups;

Baseline inventories that contribute to the development of habitat- or species-based actions within Action Plans;

Monitoring programs designed to measure the effectiveness of FWCP-funded habitat and species actions;

Actions that contribute to all aspects of managing co-operatively managed conservation lands; and

Participation as a team member in species of interest planning.

What does the FWCP NOT fund?

We do not fund or support the following activities, which are beyond our mandate:

Core activities of government or non-government agencies or programs (i.e. if the proposed project is being undertaken to inform a specific regulatory or legislative requirement, it is considered a core activity of government);

Programs designed exclusively to address government harvest objectives;

Policy development related to land or wildlife management;

Administration of government regulations;

Leading the development of species recovery goals;

Funding, coordinating, or leading National Recovery Teams for species at risk; and

The Action Plans also provide important context about hydro-generating facilities, information gaps, limiting factors, and other information to characterize the watershed or sub-region.

Our priority actions are grouped by five broad action types in the Action Plans:

Habitat-based actions;

Species-based actions;

Research and information acquisition actions;

Monitoring and evaluation actions; and

Land securement.

Our Action Plans also identify how important each action is to us (i.e. priority 1, 2, or 3). A priority 1 action will score higher than a priority 2 or 3 action, when grant applications are evaluated.

Actions identified as “directed” are not eligible for a grant. These are projects that our Regional Boards will direct through a request for proposal. Do not submit a grant application for a “directed” project. Contact us if you are not sure.

Grant applications for projects that do not clearly address an action identified in an Action Plan will not be considered for an FWCP grant.

Who can apply for an FWCP grant?

Any group, government agency, First Nation, business, or individual that can meet our insurance requirements (e.g. WorkSafe BC and commercial general liability insurance) is eligible to receive an FWCP grant. In the past, First Nations, municipal, provincial, or federal agencies, stewardship groups, consultants, and educational institutions have been approved for FWCP grants.

What grants are available?

We offer three different grants for fish and wildlife projects. You can apply for each of these grants online at https://fwcp.smartsimple.ca when the grant intake opens in your region.

In addition to these three, annual fish and wildlife grants, we offer smaller Community Engagement Grants year-round, until the annual funding is allocated. Learn more about these grants (typically $500 – $1,000) by contacting a Regional Manager.

Seed Grant

$5,000 is the maximum Seed Grant funding available from the FWCP.

Our Seed Grant is available if you have a project idea and need financial support to further develop it before submitting a Large Grant application. Seed Grant funding is intended to offset costs to fill information gaps, explore project feasibility, and prepare technical information. Up to a maximum of $5,000 is available from the FWCP. Read about how a Comox Valley Seed Grant helped launch important habitat restoration work.

Small Grant

For projects with a total project cost of less than $20,000. Total project cost including funding from all sources, in-kind contributions, and taxes.

Our Small Grant is available for projects that align with our Action Plans and have a total project cost of less than $20,000. The total project cost includes funding from all sources including, but not limited to, the FWCP and the total value of all in-kind contributions (if any), and applicable taxes. Your Small Grant application does not require a written project proposal.

Large Grant

For projects with total a project cost greater than $20,000. Total project cost including funding from all sources, in-kind contributions, and taxes.

Our Large Grant is available for projects that align with our Action Plans and have a total project cost of more than $20,000. The total project cost includes funding from all sources including, but not limited to, the FWCP and the total value of all in-kind contributions (if any), and applicable taxes. Your Large Grant application must include a written project proposal (maximum six pages).

How are grant applications reviewed?

All grant applications go through a three-stage review process that ends with a final decision by each Regional Board about proposed projects in each of our three regions.

Stage 1 Review by Regional Manager

Each FWCP Regional Manager reviews grant applications to ensure they are complete and in alignment with priority action in our Action Plans.

In our Peace Region, the First Nations Working Group (FNWG) reviews all Notices of Intent (NOI) received by the September 7, 2018, deadline. When this review is complete, the Regional Manager will advise all Peace Region grant applicants which First Nations they are expected to contact about the proposed project and any other applicable regional guidance.

Stage 2 Review by Technical Committees and First Nations Working Group

Fish and Wildlife Technical Committees in each region review each grant application for technical merit. In our Peace Region, the First Nations Working Group also evaluates grant applications for inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge, incorporation of First Nation cultural values, and involvement of First Nations in the proposed project, where appropriate.

Results from the Technical Committees and First Nations Working Group (Peace Region) review are provided to each Board to assist in their review and final decision-making in Stage 3.

Stage 3 Review by Board Members

The three Regional Boards review each grant application for projects proposed in their region. The Boards consider the results of all Stage 2 evaluations and make final decisions on which grant applications will be approved with conditions. The Regional Boards evaluate the grant applications and are responsible for all project and funding decisions in each region.

Proposed projects are evaluated on several criteria, including but not limited to: alignment with Action Plans, technical merit, deliverables, outcomes, qualifications, and experience. See below: How are grant applications evaluated?

How are grant applications evaluated?

During Stage 2 of our review process, the FWCP’s Fish and Wildlife Technical Committees in each region review all grant applications and evaluate them for:

Alignment with the FWCP’s strategic objectives (e.g. conservation, sustainable use, and community engagement) and investment criteria.

Alignment with priority actions in our Action Plans. In each Action Plan, every action has been assigned a priority of 1 (highest), 2, or 3. During the evaluation of grant applications, a proposed project that aligns with a priority 1 action will be awarded more points, and a proposed project for a priority 2 or 3 action will receive fewer points.

Conservation and enhancement of fish or wildlife that will result from the proposed project.

Overall quality of the grant application.

Technical merit, feasibility and likelihood of success.

Deliverables and project outcomes.

Team qualifications and experience.

Cost-effectiveness.

Innovation and creativity.

In our Peace Region, our First Nations Working Group also reviews each grant application at Stage 2 and evaluates each one for:

Effective communication with First Nations about the proposed project prior to submitting a grant application;

Partnership, training, or participation opportunities; and

Recognition and inclusion of cultural values and traditional knowledge.

During Stage 3 of our review process, our Regional Boards review each grant application and consider the results of other evaluations, their evaluation of the grant application, and the balancing of priorities including, but not limited to:

The balance between projects that benefit primarily fish or wildlife;

The balance of projects between Action Plans;

The value of funding fewer high-cost single-year projects or several smaller-cost projects; and

The impact of multi-year funding on future year projects.

The Boards’ review and evaluation considers each grant application relative to the FWCP’s strategic objectives: conservation, sustainable use and community engagement. Board members in each region review all grant applications and evaluate them for:

The benefit of the proposed project to fish or wildlife, and ecosystems, impacted by BC Hydro dams;

Alignment with Action Plan objectives;

Alignment with annual regional priorities or regional guidance. Additional points will be awarded during the evaluation process to applications that address one or more of the three Columbia Region priorities.

Likelihood of improving or maintaining opportunities for sustainable use;

Overall value of the project, including but not limited to, partnerships with First Nations and other funding partners, in-kind contributions, and volunteers;

Engagement of First Nations, public, communities and local stakeholders; and

Overall quality of the grant application.

What happens if my grant application is approved?

If your grant application is approved, you will be notified in writing of all conditions that must be fulfilled before finalizing a contribution agreement, starting work on your proposed project, and receiving the first payment instalment. The conditions are determined by the Regional Board and vary by grant application and proposed project.

Looking For Other Funders?

We’re sharing a few sources of environmental funding here, but we know there are many more. Please share your funding sources with us so we can share them with others who are also working to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife.